oil well

noun

: a well from which petroleum is obtained

Examples of oil well in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
National security applications include fuel rod scanners and port security systems, while industrial users rely on californium-252 for applications such as oil well logging, coal analysis and instrument calibration. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Aug. 2026 This movie needs to start in the first minute with a giant oil well-style geyser of blood, and part of it is signalling excess and campiness. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026 Throughout most of modern history, wars have targeted energy infrastructure, including oil wells, refineries, pipelines, export terminals and power plants. — Amy Myers Jaffe, The Conversation, 4 Aug. 2026 According to the International Energy Agency, 80% of the world’s oil wells are in decline, and 90% of global investment is directed toward halting that decline. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for oil well

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oil well was in 1847

Rhymes for oil well

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Browse Nearby Words

oilway
oil well
oily
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Cite this Entry

“Oil well.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oil%20well. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

oil well

noun
: a well from which petroleum is obtained

More from Merriam-Webster on oil well

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oil well

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